Stirring machine



June 14, 1932. R, E, BUT 1,862,590

STIRRING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1928 Patented June 14, 1932 ROLLER E. DUTT,

OF TIFFIN', OHIO STIRRING MACHINE Application filed June 18,

In the manufacture or production of po tato chips the slices of raw potatoes are placed in a large kettle of lard which is heated for cooking. A kettle about four feet in diameter is used. Cooking requires seven or eight minutes and during the cooking operation, it is necessary to stir the slices or chips. The object of my invention is to provide an efficient yet a simple device by which the necessary stirring may be accomplished.

My invention consists in whatever is described by or is included within the terms or scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stirrer embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the stirrer rotating gearing.

Describing by way of preliminary, the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, it comprises two sets of rotary fingers that rotate in opposite directions to counteract or prevent any displacement of the chips or slices, a frame that supports the shafts of such fingers which may swing vertically to place the fingers in the kettle and to lift them therefrom, motor-driven means to rotate the fingers and a base or support upon which the various members are mounted and by which the same are held in proper relative position with the kettle.

Describing in detail what is shown in the drawing, the base 10, is a horizontal board adapted to rest upon some convenient support near the kettle (not shown in the drawing) which may be a stand or other article of proper height, and bolted to the upper side of said base is a light metal frame-work, 11, which has at the top bearings for a horizontal shaft, 12, to which is fixed a wormwheel, 13, engaged by a worm, 14, on a horizontal shaft, 15, mounted below the wormwheel upon the base, and which receives motion from an electric. motor, 16, also mounted on the base, 10. Pivoted or hung upon said shaft, 12, is a light frame composed of a pair of similar parallel bars, 17 spaced apart to accommodate the worm-wheel and several cross-bolts, 18, which tie said bars together, the bars being held apart by suit- Serial No. 286,425.

able spacing means. The frame, thus, provided at one end journals, by suitable bear ings in the frame bars, a horizontal shaft, 19, which carries a series of radial fingers, 20, which constitute one set of stirrers, and parallel with said shaft and also supported by said frame is a similar shaft, 21, which also has radial fingers, 22, that form the other st of stirrers, the shaft, 21, being journaled and supported at one end by one bar of the 'rame, and at the other end by a bracket arm, 28, bolted to said bar. Upon one end of said shaft, 19, is fixed a sprocket wheel, 2%, and upon the other shaft is fixed a sprocket wheel, 25, in line with said sprocket wheel, 2 and a sprocket chain, 26, passes half way around the sprocket wheel, 24, and over the top of the other sprocket wheel, 25, to a sprocket wheel, 27, on the drive shaft, 12, the arrangement of chain and wheels being such that one set of stirrers rotates in the opposite direction from the other and thereby all necessary agitation or stirring of the kettle contents can be secured without the potato chips or slices being thrown by centrifugal force through motion of the liquid lard away from the stirrers or agitators. To support the stirrers or agitators in working position in the kettle or at a suitable height above the kettle when the kettle is to be emptied of cooked potato chips or supplied with uncooked chips, a ratchet bar, 28, is pivoted at its lower end to the top of the base, 10, and extends upward therefrom, between the frame bars in position to have any one of its series of ratchet teeth engaged with one of the cross or tie bolts, 18.

What I claim is:

signature.

ROLLER E. DUTT, 

